Missing Little River man found safe on Valentine's Day

A 73-year-old man who went missing from Little River Monday was found safe Thursday morning at a Sonoma County ranch, according to his son.

The Sonoma County Sheriff's Office found Wayne Fanselow, who had reportedly driven away from the coastal home he shared with his brother Monday after saying he was going to Willits, according to Russ Fanselow. The younger Fanselow also reported that his father was in the beginning stages of dementia.

Healdsburg police spoke with the elder Fanselow at a Circle K briefly Tuesday morning and, reportedly not knowing about the dementia, had no reason to hold him when he left after agreeing to wait there for his brother to arrive, according to police. Responding officers said he appeared to be OK, and that he had said he got confused driving at night.

Russ Fanselow made a missing person's report Tuesday afternoon, and the Healdsburg Police Department issued a "be on the lookout" alert for him to surrounding counties, and in particular to the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office and Willits Police Department.

The elder Fanselow's brother took him to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital for a checkup after he was found Thursday morning, according to Russ Fanselow, who said he didn't know why his father was at the Sonoma County ranch.

"I think he was just lost," he said.

Tiffany Revelle can be reached at udjtr@ukiahdj.com, on Twitter @TiffanyRevelle or at 468-3523.